Exploring Philosophy - Audio

The Open University

Have you ever considered what being conscious actually means? By choosing to live in a particular state are you consenting to be subject to all its laws? For some there’s an assumption that philosophy might not be relevant to modern life but Dr. Nigel Warburton, senior lecturer in Philosophy at The Open University argues that many of us today are faced with philosophical questions such as these as we live our lives in the twenty first century. In this collection we ask academics to discuss these questions in addition to other important philosophical issues and concepts such as the morality of abortions and the reconciling a world with evil and a good God.

This material forms part of The Open University course A222 Exploring philosophy.

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22 episodes
Updated Jun 13, 2011

Episodes22

Newest first

Jun 13, 2011 · 4 min
Philosophy in the real world
Nigel Warburton applies philosophical questions to every day life.
Jun 13, 2011
Transcript -- Philosophy in the real world
Transcript -- Nigel Warburton applies philosophical questions to every day life.
Jun 13, 2011 · 11 min
Thought experiments
Thought experiments use hypothetical questions to create philosophical dilemmas.
Jun 13, 2011
Transcript -- Thought experiments
Transcript -- Thought experiments use hypothetical questions to create philosophical dilemmas.
Jun 13, 2011 · 9 min
Personal identity
Nigel Warburton and Professor Anthony Grayling discuss what defines personal identity.
Jun 13, 2011
Transcript -- Personal identity
Transcript -- Nigel Warburton and Professor Anthony Grayling discuss what defines personal identity.
Jun 13, 2011 · 13 min
Faith and Reason
Is religious belief based on blind faith or evidence?
Jun 13, 2011
Transcript -- Faith and Reason
Transcript -- Is religious belief based on blind faith or evidence?
Jun 13, 2011 · 13 min
The problem of evil
How can a world created by an all powerfull all good God contain so much evil?
Jun 13, 2011
Transcript -- The problem of evil
Transcript -- How can a world created by an all powerfull all good God contain so much evil?
Jun 13, 2011 · 21 min
Philosophers on abortion
A discussion about morality of abortion and the rights of the foetus and the mother.
Jun 13, 2011
Transcript -- Philosophers on abortion
Transcript -- A discussion about morality of abortion and the rights of the foetus and the mother.
Jun 13, 2011 · 10 min
The problem of consciousness
What is consciousness? And what is the best way to understand self awareness.
Jun 13, 2011
Transcript -- The problem of consciousness
Transcript -- What is consciousness? And what is the best way to understand self awareness.
Jun 13, 2011 · 10 min
Two theories of political obligation
A debate over wether citizens consent to political obligation by living within that state.
Jun 13, 2011
Transcript -- Two theories of political obligation
Transcript -- A debate over wether citizens consent to political obligation by living within that state.
Jun 13, 2011 · 12 min
Courage to refuse
Can citizens decide which laws to follow for moral reasons?
Jun 13, 2011
Transcript -- Courage to refuse
Transcript -- Can citizens decide which laws to follow for moral reasons?
Jun 13, 2011 · 13 min
Descartes, doubt and knowledge
A discussion about how Descartes used doubt as a means to clarifying his understanding of the world.
Jun 13, 2011
Transcript -- Descartes, doubt and knowledge
Transcript -- A discussion about how Descartes used doubt as a means to clarifying his understanding of the world.